The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 12
Oh Yu-hwa served as one of several liaison officers within the Defense Strategy Department.
A liaison officer was a position responsible for negotiating with those who came to register as Awakened individuals, drawing out contracts, and transforming them into Hunters.
This was an era where Hunters were treated as asymmetrical strategic weapons.
The more officially contracted Hunters a nation possessed, the higher its competitive advantage and its capacity to respond to monsters—needless to say, the role of liaison officers was critically important.
Oh Yu-hwa would become the most infamous liaison officer, for better or worse.
By now, she was probably in her second year serving as a liaison officer, gradually earning her notorious reputation.
To put it kindly, she was an iron-willed negotiator; to put it bluntly, she was a con artist.
She ruthlessly bound naive Awakened individuals with absurd contract terms, while she coaxed and cajoled the clever and cunning ones into accepting the most conservative contracts possible.
I fell victim to her myself.
At the time, I was devastated by my Father’s death and half-mad with a thirst for vengeance against the monsters.
Recognizing my vulnerability, Oh Yu-hwa presented me with an outrageous contract, and I signed away my freedom without a second thought.
That’s how it was back then.
A time when contract terms meant nothing to me.
From the perspective of Awakened individuals, she was the worst liaison officer; from South Korea’s perspective, she was the best.
Despite her notorious ruthlessness, her results spoke for themselves—there was no doubt she was a formidable operative.
That was Oh Yu-hwa, the Major known by the callsign [Shylock].
“I’ve already gathered the basic personal information about you, so let’s skip over that part.”
Of course.
The Defense Strategy Department had been recording everything on video since the moment I arrived at the Guard Post.
Lim Captain was no different.
Escorting a prospective Hunter to register as an Awakened individual?
Even a stray dog wouldn’t buy that story.
Lim Captain was a kind of observer and monitor, tracking my every move.
His task was likely to analyze my appearance, speech patterns, voice, gait, manner of speaking—everything through direct observation.
It would be a grave mistake to underestimate South Korea’s Defense Strategy Department as a naive organization.
“First, I’d like to know what role you Awakened into. That way, we can tailor the contract terms appropriately.”
“I’m afraid that’s difficult.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t think I can disclose that.”
“….”
Oh Yu-hwa fell silent, seemingly at a loss for words.
But only for a moment.
Oh Yu-hwa spoke with a gentle smile.
“You came here to register as an Awakened individual, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ll need to tell me what role you Awakened into. Surely you understand that we need at least that basic information to offer you favorable terms?”
“I understand your point, Major Oh. But I’m afraid it’s still impossible.”
“Aha.”
Oh Yu-hwa’s expression suggested she’d never encountered such a difficult case before.
You probably haven’t seen anything like this before.
Most Awakened tend to be desperate to brag about their Awakening, after all.
Someone like me, who’s been a pain from the start, must be a first for you.
“Then how should we proceed with negotiations? Please tell us, Cha Eun-sung.”
“I’d appreciate it if you could make a proposal. Regarding an Awakened of a new role classification.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
I spoke casually, as if it were nothing special.
“What would you do if I had Awakened as a new role classification that didn’t exist before?”
“That’s unlikely, but… if it were true… I suppose I’d have to treat Cha Eun-sung with the utmost consideration.”
“Then you should do exactly that.”
I smiled wickedly as I spoke.
Now it’s my turn.
I’ll make you regret ever looking down on me in the past.
* * *
Inside a tent in the Refugee Camp.
Park Yeon-gyeong, Cha Eun-sung’s mother, wore a faint expression of worry on her face.
It was only natural for a mother to be concerned when her son, now an Awakened, had gone alone to the Defense Strategy Department early in the morning to register as one.
“I wonder if he should have at least consulted a lawyer before going. You should have gone with him.”
“Eun-sung is a grown man now. We can’t hover over him like he’s still a child, telling him what to do and what not to do.”
Cha Geun-woo, Cha Eun-sung’s father, smiled.
“But what if he signs some kind of slave contract?”
“I made sure to tell him not to sign anything for more than a year since this is his first time. It should be fine. Besides, sometimes you need to taste bitterness to understand how the world works. A man who aspired to be a special forces officer shouldn’t fail at something like this.”
“But…”
Park Yeon-gyeong spoke as if her mind was far from at ease.
“Our Eun-sung is such a good and upright son, as you well know. He’s exactly the type who’d be easy prey for scams.”
“Hmm.”
Cha Geun-woo stroked his beard, seeming somewhat concerned about that as well.
“Eun-sung does have that side to him. He’s just the type suited for military service like I did. Easy to be taken advantage of. And prone to getting hurt because of it.”
“That’s true.”
“What can you do? That’s how the world is. Still, his personality seems to have changed these past few days. He’s been bolder and more action-oriented than I expected. Our son.”
“That much is true.”
“Let’s just wait and see for now.”
“Understood.”
Cha Geun-woo and Park Yeon-gyeong desperately hoped their son Cha Eun-sung wouldn’t be taken advantage of by the Defense Strategy Department, and they suppressed their anxiety, trusting he would handle things well.
This was their parenting style.
Sometimes, knowing their child might face hardship, they stepped back and watched from a distance.
* * *
“Is that really true? That you Awakened as a role classification that didn’t exist before?”
“Yes.”
“Then could you show me the mark?”
“That much is possible.”
I unbuttoned my shirt and revealed the mark inscribed across my chest.
A serpent consuming its own tail to form a circle, with stars gleaming within it.
“…!”
Oh Yu-hwa’s eyes widened as though they might burst from her skull.
Yes, she was shocked.
She couldn’t help but be shocked.
As a negotiation officer for the Defense Strategy Department, she had witnessed countless Awakened’s marks, yet mine was undoubtedly a form she had never encountered before.
But she was a consummate professional.
Oh Yu-hwa quickly regained her composure and smiled as though it were nothing remarkable.
“It’s certainly a mark I’ve never seen before. Excellent. I’ll arrange the best possible terms for you.”
“I look forward to it.”
“If you read through this, you’ll understand—upon signing, you’ll receive a signing bonus, housing, a vehicle, and a monthly salary.”
Oh Yu-hwa slid the contract toward me.
“Since you’re an Awakened of a new classification, as you can see, the housing will be a 30-pyeong apartment in this district. The vehicle will be an imported foreign car.”
On the surface, the terms didn’t look unfavorable.
Despite the modest square footage, the apartment Oh Yu-hwa offered was a Tier 1 safety-rated unit.
The Defense Strategy Department designated housing provided to Hunters as [Safe Houses] and assigned them grades.
Tier 1 was the safest grade, while the apartment I’d selected was Tier 3.
Of course, it hardly mattered.
As time progressed, monster attacks would inevitably exceed humanity’s predictions.
The imported foreign car wasn’t bad, but it was merely window dressing.
Once active as a Hunter, I’d find myself relying far more frequently on motorcycles, helicopters, and four-wheeled ATVs.
A monthly salary of 10 million won paid without taxation wasn’t terrible either.
The problem was that all of it amounted to nothing more than superficial conditions.
A nice house, a nice car, and tax-free wages?
Fine, it’s all fine, but that’s not the crux of the contract.
‘A 50:50 loot distribution ratio? Damn it. Even a slave would do better than having half taken when the Hunter should keep everything.’
The ratio alone wasn’t the issue.
‘Fifteen operations annually over seven years? Even a beast of burden would fare better.’
A Hunter’s life offers no guarantees, not even for a single day.
Constantly deployed into perilous combat, living as though death were an intimate companion—and they’re asking for seven years?
Standard Hunter contracts are one year, with three years being the absolute maximum.
Yet she was presenting a seven-year contract?
Oh Yu-hwa was attempting to ensnare me, just as she always had with others.
“There are many problems with this contract. The ratio, and the contract period seems far too long.”
“Then I could lower it by about a year. Normally that wouldn’t be possible, but since it’s you, I’ll make a special exception. I can adjust the ratio from 50:50 to 60:40. There are rarely cases where I do this for a first contract….”
“I apologize.”
“Then how about five years with a 70:30 ratio? Even that’s pushing it for me.”
“I heard you loud and clear.”
I rose from my seat.
“I’ve heard Japan and the United States offer better treatment. That sounds like the better option.”
“W-what? Cha Eun-sung?”
Oh Yu-hwa’s face drained of color.
Awakeners are national assets and strategic weapons.
A new type of Awakener with a previously unseen pattern had appeared—and if we failed to secure them and let another nation steal them away?
This was far beyond what a mere liaison officer like Oh Yu-hwa could handle.
One misstep and her identity would be exposed, she’d be branded a traitor, face death threats, and spend her entire life in hiding.
In fact, Oh Yu-hwa’s eventual fate was horrific.
Was it about five years from now?
There had been a major news story about Oh Yu-hwa being discovered as a dismembered corpse.
She’d obviously been killed by a Hunter, and most people’s reaction was that she deserved it.
“Cha Eun-sung.”
Oh Yu-hwa spoke in an earnest tone.
“Other nations’ conditions might be better, but as a Korean, you should sign a contract with South Korea. You were planning to enlist as a naval officer, weren’t you? We’ll pay closer attention to your needs, so please give us a chance to——”
Sigh.
This is getting repulsive.
She offers a slave contract and then appeals to patriotism?
“I appreciate the offer, but let’s end this here. Listening to Major Oh’s words is making any patriotic sentiment I had disappear.”
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. The treatment for new contractors is already set. So the contract period would be five years——”
Relentless. Absolutely relentless.
Even now, she’s trying to hook another sucker?
“Cha Eun-sung! Wait!”
Oh Yu-hwa grabbed my arm and held on.
“If I offended you, I’m truly sorry!”
“Sorry?”
“Ah, no, I apologize!”
“Please calm down and listen to what I have to say. Cha Eun-sung, this is beyond what I can handle on my own. So please settle down and wait just a moment longer?”
“If I wait?”
“I’ll report to the Minister and get back to you. There’s a high chance the Minister will come personally.”
Yes, now we’re talking.
The Defense Strategy Department Minister at this point in time was someone worth having a conversation with.
Ahn Guk-seon.
Call sign: Iron Blood.
A first-generation Hunter who had awakened when monsters first invaded Earth ten years before this moment.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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